Philippines, 02 Aug 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


SPORTSCLOPEDIA 56: JUNE 20, 1980 - ROBERTO DURAN FIGHTS SUGAR RAY LEONARD IN THEIR FIRST MEETING


PhilBoxing.com





June 20, 1980. Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durán was billed as The Brawl in Montreal. Leonard was the WBC and The Ring champion while Duran was the former undisputed lightweight champion. The bout took place on June 20, 1980 at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada attended by 46,317 fans. Durán defeated Leonard via unanimous decision. The referee was Filipino legend Carlos Padilla Jr. Leonard was a 9 to 5 favorite to win their first bout.

* * *

It was an exciting tooth and nail fight that lasted the full 15 rounds. In most of the fight, Durán was the attacker and he won a close unanimous decision victory. Durán averaged 60 thrown punches per round and 21 connects, while Leonard averaged 50 thrown punches and 18 connects.

* * *

When the decision was announced, Durán was erroneously announced as the winner by majority decision as one judge's scorecard was mistakenly tallied as a 147–147 draw, however the mistake was corrected and Durán won on all three scorecards by unanimous decision, 145–144, 148–147 and 146–144.

* * *

The fight was Leonard's return to Montreal, Canada, the site of his Olympic Gold Medal victory in 1976. Duran earned $1.5 million, which is his biggest payday ever, while Leonard reportedly made between $7.5 million and $10 million, so far the biggest money ever collected for a boxing fight.

* * *

As early as 2018, the Denver Nuggets had seen a potential in Nikola Jokic and expected him to grow into a franchise player. But when they drafted the Serbian center in 2014, they were not thinking that his progress would be so fast.

* * *

When the Nuggets drafted in 2014, Jokic was not the team's top choice and they selected another center, Jusuf Nurkic from Bosnia as the 16th pick. Twenty-five picks later, Denver this time selected Jokic. Nurkic played in the NBA immediately, while Jokic stayed in Europe for another year.

* * *

Nurkic played very well as a rookie, and the Nuggets were planning to form a twin tower combination with him and Jokic. But injuries hounded Nurkic in his sophomore year, and coach Mike Malone made Jokic the starting center. Jokic kept on improving, while Nurkic was traded to Portland, and the Nuggets sped up their scheme of developing Jokic. The rest is history. Nuggets won their first ever NBA title after reaching the finals for the first time.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Boxer
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • Duarte vs. Sims Jr. Title Eliminator Official: All Fighters Make Weight in Chicago
    , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • ALLEN v MAKHMUDOV, SUGAR NUNEZ IN MEXICO AND MORE AS MATCHROOM BOXING CONFIRMS HUGE AUTUMN LINE-UP – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • Undaloc Jr. leads BBG 300 Ultra Marathon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • Round One: Dr. Bernard Remollino Brings Pancho Villa Back Into the Ring
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 01 Aug 2025
  • Panya Pradabsri, Carlos Cañizales Make Weight for WBC 108 World Title Rematch in Venezuela
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 01 Aug 2025
  • “NOWHERE TO RUN” OSCAR “LA MIGRAÑA” DUARTE VS. KENNETH “BOSSMAN” SIMS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 01 Aug 2025
  • Pabular to make 1st title defense on Aug. 12
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 01 Aug 2025
  • Tacurong excited to play in Buhangin slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 01 Aug 2025
  • Kenneth “Lover Boy” Llover vs Former Champ Luis “Nica” Concepcion August 17 in Manila!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 31 Jul 2025
  • Xiao Time: Where History Pulls No Punches
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 31 Jul 2025
  • Vargas Speaks After Retaining WBA Bantamweight Title in Gritty Battle with Daigo Higa in Japan
    , Thu, 31 Jul 2025
  • The “ATV” Plan is set for Undefeated Bay State Junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez
    , Thu, 31 Jul 2025
  • Youth High Performance Team Captain Salim Ellis-Bey Takes the World Stage With One Goal in Mind
    , Thu, 31 Jul 2025
  • Trainer Tommy Brooks Passes Away at 71
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 31 Jul 2025
  • Kyosuke Takami Stops Erick Rosa in 10, Becomes “The New” WBA 108 World Champion
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 31 Jul 2025
  • Immanuwel Aleem Smashes His Way To WBC FECARBOX Light Heavyweight Title and Inaugural DMV Belt With Spectacular 9th Round Stoppage Of Rival Demond Nicholson On Jeter Promotions Card
    , Thu, 31 Jul 2025
  • NP Bansalan will see action in Buhangin on Aug. 9
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 30 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Competition at 2025 Brandenburg Cup
    , Wed, 30 Jul 2025
  • Antonio Vargas Makes Weight, Set to Carry the USA Flag into World Title Showdown Against Daigo Higa in Japan
    , Wed, 30 Jul 2025
  • “The Homecoming” to be Headlined by Phenom Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Sept. 6 in Olathe, Kansas
    , Wed, 30 Jul 2025
  • Split-T Management Fighters Complete Perfect Weekend
    , Wed, 30 Jul 2025
  • Golden Boy Signs Top Mexican Light Heavyweight Prospect Yair “Manotas” Gallardo to Co-Promotional Deal with Miguel Cotto Promotions
    , Wed, 30 Jul 2025
  • 2-Time World Champion Shawn Porter Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 30 Jul 2025
  • EVAN HOLYFIELD SET TO CONTINUE HIS COMEBACK THIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, AT CHRISTY MARTIN’S “MAYHEM IN MUSIC CITY 2”
    , Tue, 29 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.